FA Cup: Newport County 'must improve' to secure Man United tie - Nick Townsend

Nick Townsend has played 32 games in all competitions for Newport County in the 2023-24 season

Newport County goalkeeper Nick Townsend says they must up their game to triumph in Tuesday night's FA Cup third-round replay at National League Eastleigh.

The sides drew 1-1 at Rodney Parade on 6 January, Chris Maguire's spot-kick earning 10-man Eastleigh a replay.

But the stakes have since soared with the lucrative prospect of hosting Manchester United in round four for the winners at Silverlake Stadium.

"We don't really need any motivation for the game," said Townsend.

"We just have to make sure we play our game. We know what they will do and come out with. We have to up our game as well, which I am sure we can do.

"We proved that against Barnet when we played them in the [second round] replay. We are definitely up for the game."

Newport stretched their unbeaten run to five games as an injury-time goal from Seb Palmer-Houlden gave them a 1-0 win at Doncaster in League Two on Saturday.

Antigua & Barbuda international Townsend, 29, was part of Newport's memorable FA Cup campaign in 2019 when they despatched former Premier League champions Leicester City and Championship club Middlesbrough before falling to Manchester City.

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Townsend says there is a similar feeling at the club as that "unreal" run to the fifth round.

"That was my first season here and was special," said Townsend.

"This has the same feeling about it, there's a buzz around the place with how we have been doing in the league.

"We've had a few mishaps with injuries but we've had lads fill their boots. We are building a team and lads are coming back from injury."

After the high stakes game at Eastleigh, Newport have a sell-out League Two Welsh derby against Wrexham on Saturday before the potential meeting with Manchester United.

The proposed takeover by former Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins is also expected to gain English Football League approval before the end of the month.

Townsend said: "There have been improvements since I walked through the door.

"We were ground-hopping for training but now we are stable. We have good facilities and you can see what we are trying to build as a football club."

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